My experience with coffee usually consists of morning trips to Pret A Manger before work in the mornings, a trip to Starbucks at the weekends, and a mild addiction to buying Costa Coffees during my time at university. However, I did manage to try a wide variety of coffees they have on offer. And of course, my bank balance has suffered for it too. That’s why machines like the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Eclipse interest me.

NESCAFÉ has come out guns blazing with the design of the new Eclipse machine, and it actually looks really cool. It’s a nice change against the usual boxy looking industrial type machines. It’s essentially a large loop, mostly made from a plastic material. There are touch sensitive controls on the top of the device. Controls consist of hot and cold water, the amount of water to be released and the power button.

Setup was a breeze. Power the coffee machine and the loop splits to reveal the spout. The NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Eclipse needs to go through an initial run of hot and cold water. I used the included pod bin to catch the water, as you’re instructed to run it on max setting. Once this has completed its routine, then you’re good to go with your first coffee.

Inserting the coffee pods into the machine is an easy feat too. Just pull out the magnetised pod tray. The tray is moulded in such a way that the pod will only go in one way anyway. It will be pierced automatically once the water starts flowing.

From here I had to look at the instruction manual, as the drinks that were sent through required certain amounts of water. I first started with Cappuccino. This drink requires two pods; one for milk (which has a white base) and one for a coffee shot (which has a brown base). The milk needed six parts water, and the coffee needed one. It’s a simple process, but one you need to know because if you use too much water, it will then start diluting the coffee.

The XL button can be pressed if you find the specified amount of water a little too strong. It’s a nice feature, especially for the stronger drinks like Espressos that are available. The drip tray that sits under the cup can be placed a various heights, making this machine versatile for different sized mugs. The handy pod bin that comes with it is a nice touch and will save you several trips to the bin, especially if you’re making several drinks for a group.

I must say that the coffee produced is pretty wonderful, especially the drinks you have to mix with milk and different pods together. According to NESCAFÉ, there are around 40 different recipes you can make with the various coffee pods. It’s a great way to get your coffee fix without having to spend a huge amount in somewhere like Costa or Starbucks.

Like I said at the start, I am no coffee connoisseur . I get my coffee from places blamed for the gentrification of self sustaining communities. I’m a monster. But, no more. I am going to be using this way more often I think. And if I take a travel mug to work with me, I will save money by not buying a £3 coffee in the morning. As long as I remember to bring the travel flask back home with me that is. For more information you can visit the NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto Eclipse website.